Mon Dec 30 13:55:17 UTC 2024: ## Rohit Sharma Denies Retirement Amidst India’s Crushing Melbourne Defeat
**Melbourne, Australia:** Following India’s devastating 184-run loss to Australia in the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, captain Rohit Sharma has dismissed speculation surrounding his potential retirement from international cricket. While admitting disappointment with both his personal performance and the team’s strategic shortcomings in the match, Sharma emphatically stated he has no plans to retire.
India suffered a crushing defeat, losing the match by a significant margin on day five. The loss has fueled intense scrutiny of Sharma’s captaincy and batting form. His performance in the series has been underwhelming, with a paltry 31 runs at an average of 6.20. This, coupled with India’s strategic failures, led to widespread speculation about his future.
However, Sharma addressed the rumors directly, stating that while the defeat was mentally taxing and the team’s performance fell short of expectations, retirement was not on the agenda. He emphasized the need for both personal and team improvement moving forward. Australia now leads the series 2-1. The loss also significantly impacts India’s position in the World Test Championship points table.
First Piper 